Can end unpackaging system



July 13, 1965 c. T. WALTER CAN END UNPACKAGING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 28, 1963 3 mm cm INVENTOR f/zar/es 2' Walter ATTORNEYS July13, 1965 c. 1'. WALTER CAN END UNPACKAGING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 28, 1963 7w m m N m wa m m 6 1 6 July 13, 19 c. T. WALTER CAN ENDUNPACKAGING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 28, 1963 INVENTOR.(Mar/e: Z" Walter July 13, 1965 c. T. WALTER CAN END UNPACK AGING SYSTEM8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 28, 1963 INVENTOR (bar/e: 7? white!" BY WM,m;

C. T. WALTER CAN END UNPACKAGING SYSTEM July 13, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed March 28, 1963 INVENTOR (bar/es 7. Val? July 13,1965: c. T. WALTERCAN END UNPACKAGING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 28, 1963INVENTOR (bar/es Z'h a/fer W ATTORNEY5% July 13, 1965 c. T. WALTER3,194,199

CAN END UNPACKAGING SYSTEM Filed March 28, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG-.7

INV E NTOR mar/w Z'h/a/fer ATTORNEYZY y 13, 1955 c. 'r. WALTER 3, 4,1 9

CAN END UNPACKAGING SYSTEM Filed March 28, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 IF: &.9

INVENTOR Char/9s Two/fer ATTORNEYJ United States Patent 3,14,l99 CAN ENDUNPAQKAGING SYTEM Charles T. Walter, Lamont, IlL, assignor toContinental Can Company, lno, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Mar. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 268,635 25 (Ilaims. (Cl. 113-113) Thisinvention relates to a novel apparatus for removing an elongated,tubular, flexible, paperstock member from about a plurality of encasedcan ends arranged in face-to-face relationship preparatory to feedingthe can ends to a closing machine.

At present, can ends are packaged in paper bags of a length of about twoto three feet. The completed can ends are stacked at a rate of about oneinch per second, and when the stack of completed can ends has grownsufficiently to at least till a bag, an operator removes a predeterminedlength of the can ends from the stack. The removed can ends are thenplaced in a jig for insertion into a paper bag, after which the bag issealed, placed into a large carton, and shipped to a customers plant.

At the customers plant, the carton is placed adjacent a can seaming orclosing machine and the individual bags of can ends are unloaded fromthe cartons. Each of the bags is then opened and the can ends are thendeposited on a can end feed chute of the can closing machine. The canclosing machine uses up can ends at a rate of about 1" per second. A canclosing machine operating at the rate of 1 per second uses up a 3'length of can ends in approximately 36 seconds. Thus, it will beappreciated that the feeding of the can ends to a can closing machine isa laborious, time-consuming and expensive operation.

An object of this invention is the provision of a novel can endunpackaging apparatus constructed to substantially eliminate the timeand labor involved in the abovementioned practice of unloading can endsfrom individual paper bags and feeding the can ends to a can closingmachine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can endunpackaging apparatus including a conveyor mechanism for transporting aplurality of can ends arranged in face-to-face relationship and encasedin a flexible, tubular member from a feeding mechanism about which thetubular, flexible member is coiled to a can closing machine, and asevering mechanism located adjacent the conveyor mechanism forprogressively severing the tubular, flexible member as the same is beingtransported by the conveyor mechanism to expose the plurality of canends.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel apparatusfor unpackaging a plurality of can ends encased in a flexible, tubularmember by transporting the encased can ends on a conveyor belt, arotatable cutting blade being positioned above the conveyor belt forprogressively, linearly slitting the flexible tubular member, a pair ofshoes overlying the conveyor belt for guiding adjacent severed portionsof the flexible, tubular member into a common plane and a wind-up reelor spool for removing and Winding thereabout the severed, tubular,flexible member to completely expose the plurality of can ends.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a can endunpackaging apparatus of the type including a conveyor belt fortransporting an elongated, tubular, flexible, can end encasing memberalong a predetermined path, a rotatable cutting blade arranged above thepredetermined path for progressively and linearly slitting the tubular,flexible member, and in addition, to provide a slotted shoe cooperativewith the rotatable cutting blade for lifting portions of the tubular,flexible member toward the cutting blade and away from the peripheraledges of belt for severing a tubular, flexible member encasing aplurality of can ends, and a mechanism adjacent an output end of theconveyor belt for removing the severed tubular, flexible member andcompletely exposing the plurality of can ends thereby unpackaging thesame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can endunpackaging apparatus of the type immediately described above wherein anopen guide is arranged between the output end of the conveyor and a canclosing machine, a detecting device positioned along the open guidebeing operable by the plurality of can ends to indicate the sufliciencyor insufliciency of can ends being fed to the can closing machine, and adrive mechanism for the conveyor belt operably connected to thedetecting device whereby the conveyor belt is advanced upon .anindication from the detecting device that an insufficient amount of canends are being unpackaged, while additionally permitting the conveyorbelt to be stopped upon another indication of the detecting device thata suflicient amount of can ends are being fed.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel can endunpack-aging apparatus constructed in accordance with theabove-mentioned objects and provided with a pressure roll mechanismcooperative with the output end of the conveyor belt to grip the severedflexible member and provide tensioned winding thereof, and an exhaustingdevice positioned adjacent the rotating cutting blade for removingcutting dust as the flexible tubular member is severed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method ofunpackaginga plurality of can ends encased in a tubular flexible memberby transporting the plurality of encased can ends, continuously linearlysevering the tubular member and separating the flexible, tubular memberfrom the plurality of can ends.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter' appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side perspective view of a can end unpackaging apparatusconstructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates aflexible, tubular can end encasing package coiled about a verticallymovable feeding mechanism, a conveyor belt transporting the plurality ofencased can ends to a severing mechanism, and subsequently transportingthe plurality of can ends to acan closing machine'after the severedflexible member has ben completely removed and wound about a tensionwindup spool or reel. j

FIGURE 1A is a schematic top perspective view of the can end unpackagingapparatus of FIGURE 1, and shows a rotating cutting blade cooperativewith a slotted plow, an exhausting mechanism for removing cutting dustas the flexible tubular member is linearly slit, and a pair of hingedplows overlying the severed portions of the flexible memher and guidingthe same into a common plane. r

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a left-hand portion of the can endunpackaging apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 2A is a top plan view similar to FIGURE 2 Patented July 13, 1965of a right-hand extension of the can end unpackaging apparatus of FIGURE2, and shows a pivotable regulating arm journaled to an output end ofthe conveyor and an opposite end thereof overlying a portion of avertically adjustable and freely rotatable turntable.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken along line3-3 of FIGURE 2, and more clearly shows the left-hand portion of the canend unpackaging apparatus.

FIGURE 3A is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View taken along theline 3A-3A of FIGURE 2A, and illustrates the right-hand portion of thecan end unpackaging apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view takenalong line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, and illustrates a section of an open guidebetween an output end of the conveyor and a can closing machine.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view takenalong line 5-5 of FIGURE 3A, and shows a roller freely journaled on anend portion of a regulating arm forming a portion of a regulatingmechanism for maintaining a proper relationship between the input end ofthe conveyor and the vertically movable turntable.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view takenalong line 6-6 of FIGURE 3A, and illustrates a second end portion of theregulating arm pivotally journaled to the input end of the conveyor.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical jump section taken alongline '7-7 of FIGURE 3, and shows a section of the open guide that isswingable to a nonuse position and a hinged guide on each side of theconveyor belt for directing adjacent severed portions of the tubular,flexible member into a common plane.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the swingable portionof the open guide and the pair of guiding means or shoes on each side ofthe conveyor belt.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary enlarged jump sectional view taken along theline 9-9 of FIGURE 3, and shows more clearly the left-hand end portionof the can end unpackaging apparatus.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary jump sectional view taken alongline 16-10 of FIGURE 3, and illustrates the relationship between therotating cutting blade, the slotted plow and the conveyor belt.

FIGURE 11 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIGURE10, and illustrates a tapered end portion of the slotted plow liftingthe flexible tubular member away from the peripheral edges of aplurality of can ends and the rotatable cutting blade severing thetubular flexible member.

A can end unpackaging apparatus constructed in accordance with thisinvention is best illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 3A, and isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 12. The can endunpackaging apparatus 12 includes a vertically movable and freelyrotatable feed mechanism 13. A container C is supported by the feedmechanism 13 and has coiled thereabout an elongated, flexible, tubularmember M which encases a plurality of can ends E in face-to-facerelationship. The container C and the tubular can end encasing member Mform no part of this invention. However, it should be noted that thetubular can end encasing member M is constructed of a material which issuificiently flexible to allow the tubular can end encasing member M tobe coiled about the container C without the flexible material beingruptured. Preferably, the tubular can end encasing member M isconstructed from paperstock material such as crepe paper.

The feed mechanism 13 is best illustrated in FIGURES 2A and 3A, andincludes an outer cylinder 14 and an inner cylinder 15 telescopedtherein. The inner cylindrical member 15 is raised with respect to theouter cylindrical member 14 by supplying fluid from a hydraulic fluidreservoir 16 by an electric motor 17 operating a A. hydraulic pump 18and a high pressure fluid supply line 2% in fluid communication with theinterior of the outer cylindrical member 14. An electrically actuatedcontrol valve 21 in a return line 22 is operated by a regulating devicewhich will hereafter be described. When the control valve 21 is open,hydraulic fluid may be selectively returned from the hydraulic feedmechanism 13 via a check valve 29 in the line 20 which has an integralcontrollable by-pass, through the return line 22 to the fluid reservoir16, due to the weight of the inner cylinder 15 of the hydraulic feedmechanism 13. When the control valve 21 is closed, hydraulic fluid iscommunicated from the fluid reservoir 16 through the high pressuresupply line 20 and check valve 29 to the hydraulic feed mechanism 13.The check valve 29 allows free flow of fluid into the cylindrical member14, but prevents the return of the fluid to the reservoir so as toprevent the lowering of the inner cylindrical member 15 when the valve21 is open. The machine operator can effect the lowering of thecylindrical member 15 whenever the valve 21 is open by manually openingthe normally closed by-pass of the check valve 29.

Due to the small volume rate of flow of the pump IS and the larger sizeof the return line 22 as compared to the high pressure fluid supply line24 the pump I8 may be run continuously so that when the control valve 21is opened the fluid from the pump 18 immediately returns to the fluidreservoir 16.

A turntable 23 is freely rotatably mounted on a top portion of the innercylinder 15 of the hydraulic feed mechanism I3 by means of ball bearings(not shown) or other such anti-friction devices.

As is clearly illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2A and 3A, of the drawings, thehydraulic feed mechanism 13 is lol .cated adjacent an input end 25 of aconveyor 24. The

height of the freely rotatable and vertically movable turntable 23 withrespect to the input end 25 of the conveyor 24 is regulated by a levelregulating mechanism 26. The level regulating mechanism 26 includes anarm 27 having an end portion 28 overlying the turntable 23. An hourglassroller 3t is journaled to the end portion 28 of the arm 27 by means of ashaft 31 passed through an aperture 32 in the end portion 28 of the arm27, as shown in FIGURE 5. A transverse pin 33 secures the shaft 31 tothe end portion 2% of the arm 27. The hour-glass configuration of thehourglass roller St is formed by a pair of identical frusto-conicalrollers as each having a pair of press fitted bushings 34' and which arearranged in opposed relationship to each other and freely rotatablymounted on the shaft fill. An identical washer and cotter pin, 37 and 33respectively, retain the frusto-conical roller 36 upon the shaft 31 in amanner clearly shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawings.

A second end portion as of the arm 27 is provided with a pair ofidentical, spaced, apertured'ears 41. With particular attention directedto FIGURES 3A and 6 of the drawings, the spaced ears 41 receivetherebetween a bight portion 42 of a substantially U-shaped invertedmember 43. A bolt 44 passed through the apertured ears 41 and the bightportion 42 of the inverted U-shaped member 43 pivotaily attaches the arm27 to the inverted U-shaped member 43. The inverted U-shaped member 43is pivotally attached to the input end 25 of the conveyor 24 by means ofa bracket 45 attached to each one of a respective pair of support legs47 forming a part of the conveyor 24. Each of two depending legs 48 ofthe inverted U-shape-d member 43 is apertured to receive a shaft 59which is retained in apertures in the brackets 46 by a collar 51. Acollar 52 on each end [of the shaft 5t cooperates with a collar 53 oneach end of the shaft 5%? to retain the inverted U-shaped member 43pivotally mounted on the input end 25 of the conveyor 24.

A microswitch 54 is attached to the leftmost leg 47 i of the conveyor24, as viewed in FIGURE 6 and includes a movableswitch operating camroller 55. A camming member 56 i secured to an inner face of the leftleg 43 of the inverted, U-shaped member 43, as is clearly illustrated inFIGURE 6 of the drawings. The camming member 56 is in pivotablealignment with the cam roller 55 of the microswitch 54. The microswitch54 is con nected to the control valve 21 of FIGURE 2A. As the can endencasing member M is drawn off the container C supported by theturntable 23, the height of the coil decreases and the regulating arm 27of the regulating mechanism 26 pivots downwardly in a clockwisedirection about the shaft 56. When the regulating arm 27 has pivoted apreselected distance, the cumming member 56 secured thereto actuates themicroswitch 54 by contacting and moving the switch operating cam roller55 thereof. The actuation of the microswitch 54 causes the control valve21 to close. As has been heretofore noted, the closing of the controlvalve 21 causes hydraulic fluid to be pumped from the fluid reservoir 16through the high pressure conduit 26 and check valve 29 into the feedmechanism 13. In this manner, the inner cylindrical member 15 istelescoped vertically upwardly with respect to the outer cylindricalmember 14 of the feeding mechanism 13 until the microswitch is againpermitted to return to its original position by the retraction of thecamming member 56 away from the cam roller 55 which causes the controlvalve 21 to again open.

The by-pass of the check valve 29 will be closed during operation of theapparatus 12 so that when the valve 21 is opened the check valve 23prevents the return of fluid from cylindrical member 14 to the reservoir16 and the height attained by the inner cylindrical member 15 at theinstant the valve 21 is opened will be maintained. The height of the canend encasing member M coiled about the container C is thus continuouslyand automatically maintained at a desired level with respect to theinput end 25 of the conveyor mechanism 24.

The regulation of the level of the feed mechanism 13 with respect to theinput end 25 of the conveyor 24 by the regulating mechanism 26 preventsthe rupture of the can end encasing member M which would otherwiseoccur. That is, because the can end encasing member M is constructed offlexible crepe paper or any such other similar paper product, the crepepaper would rupture if the can end encasing member M were abruptly bentduring the feeding thereof. For example, if the lowermost coil of thecan end encasing member M supported on the turntable 23 of FIGURE 3A wasto be fed to the conveyor 24 from the position illustrated, the can endencasing member M would be severely bent at the input end 25 of theconveyor 24. This bending of the can end encasing member M would causethe rupture of the same.

A guide chute 57 is adjustably secured by a pair of bracket arms 58between the feed mechanism 13 and the input end 25 of the conveyor 24 tofurther assure gradual bending of the can end encasing member M as thesame is being fed to the conveyor mechanism 24 The conveyor mechanism 24includes a supporting framework F. An idler roll 60 is suitablyjournaled to the framework F of the conveyor mechanism 24 at the inputend 25 thereof, while a drive roll 61 is jiournaled by means of a shaft62 to an output end 63 of the conveyor mechanism 24. A central section64 of the driven roll 61 is reduced in diameter and convexly curved forthe purpose of maintaining a conveyor belt centered thereon inaccordance with conventional practice.

A conveyor belt 65 isentrained about the rolls 60 and 61 and establishesa predetermined path of travel for the can end encasing member Mextending from the input end 25 of the conveyor mechanism 24 to theoutput end 63 of the conveyor mechanism 241. A pair of identical,adjustable idle rolls 66 are secured to the framework F to vary thetension in the conveyor belt 65 in a manner clearly shown in FIGURES 3and 3A of the drawings.

The drive roll 61 is driven by a motor 67 in a manner best illustratedin FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The

motor 67 is adjustably mounted on the framework F of the conveyormechanism 24, and includes a pulley 68 secured toan output shaft 70 ofthe motor 67. A pulley belt '71 is entrained over the drive pulley 68 ofthe motor 67 and about a pulley 72 of a speed reducer 73. An outputshaft '74 of the speed reducer 73 is provided with a sprocket 75 and apulley 76. A drive chain 77 is entrained about the sprocket 75 of thespeed reducer 73, and also about a drive sprocket 73 secured. to theshaft 62 of the drive roll 61.

With particular attention directed to FIGURES 3, 10 and 11 of thedrawings, a severing mechanism Stl is secured to the framework F of theconveyor mechanism 24 between the respective input and output ends 25and d3 of the conveyor mechanism 24, and in vertical spaced relation toan upper conveyor belt run 69 of the conveyor belt 65, as is bestillustrated in FIGURE 10 l of the drawings. The severing mechanism 80includes a motor 81 secured above the upper run 69 of the conveyor belt65 by means of a U-shaped mounting bracket 82, a bight portion 83 ofwhich is welded or otherwise secured to a leg 84 of an Lshaped member85. A second leg 86 or" the L-shaped member 35 is secured to a first leg87 of a second L-shaped member 88 by means of a plurality of nuts andbolts 9i) in a manner clearly shown in FIGURE 10 of the drawings. Asecond leg 91 0f the second L-shaped member 83 is secured by a pluralityof identical nuts and bolts 96 to a vertically depending support arm 92.welded or otherwise attached to a bridging member 93 of the framework F.A cutting blade 94 is secured to a shaft 95 of the motor 81, and ispreferably enclosed in a protective housing 96. As is best illustratedin FIG- URE 11 of the drawings, the cutting blade 94 is supportedslightly above the peripheral edges of the plurality of can ends Etransported by the upper conveyor belt run 69 of the conveyor belt 65.

Furthermore, as is also illustrated in FIGURE 11, the depending supportarm 92 is secured at a lower end portion thereof to a tapered plow 97.The plow 97 includes a downwardly opening concave trailing end portion98 which tapers forwardly into a substantially narrow, pointed leadingend portion 100. The pointed leading end portion 109 of the plow 97includes a shoulder 10]. and an elongated slot 102. The pointed leadingend fill of the plow 97 is positioned closelyabove the peripheral edgesof the plurality of can ends E and is effective to cause the flexiblecan end encasing member M to be peeled away from the peripheral edgeportions of the plurality of can ends E, in a manner clearly illustratedin FIGURE 11. Because the cutting blade 94 is positioned with aperipheral cutting edge portion 103 thereof in the elongated slot 102 ofthe plow 97, the tubular can end encasing member M is longitudinallysevered or slit while being transported by the upper conveyor belt run69 while the peripheral edge portions of the plurality of can ends E areprecluded from being cut or abraded by the cutting edge portion 103 ofthe cutting blade 94.

An exhausting or vacuuming device 104 is located adjacent the severingmechanism 80 by a suitable support bracket (not shown). The vacuumingdevice 104 includes a nozzle 105 located close the cutting blade 94- andthe elongated slot 102. A flexible hose 166 conducts paper cutting dustfrom the severed can end member M to a tank 107.

An open guide member 108 extends between the trail ing end portion 98 ofthe plow 97 and a can closing machine 169. The open guide M8 includes apair of lower, cylindrical, elongated rods lit) and a plurality of upperaligned rod sections 111 through 115. The elongated rods lit and theplurality of rod sections 111-115 are arranged to confine andguide theplurality of can ends E from the trailing end portion 98 of the plow 97to the can closing machine 169. The elongated members The support arm 92is.

encasing 1111 and the plurality of rod sections 111415 are maintained inspaced relation by a plurality of identical ring spacers 116, as is bestillustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

The rod section 112 shown in FEGURES 3 and 8 of the drawings is weldedor otherwise secured to a pair of identical L-shaped brackets 117. Eachof the brackets 117 is secured to the framework F of the conveyorechanism 24 by an associated hinge By grasping a handle 121) securedbetween the members 117, the rod section 112 can be hinged or pivoted toan out-ofthe-Way position for a purpose to be hereafter described.

Illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3, 7 and 8 is a guide shoe 121 adjacent eachmarginal edge of the upper conveyor belt run 69. Each of the guidingshoes 121 includes a flat, tapered, leading edge portion 122 and anoffset trailing end portion 123. Each of the trailing offset endportions 123 includes a hinge section 124 secured to the framework F ofthe conveyor mechanism A handle 125 is provided on each of the guideshoes 121 whereby the same may be grasped to hinge the guide shoes 121to an out-of-the-way position for a purpose to be described hereafter.The purpose and function of the guide shoes 121 are to guide the severedtubular can end encasing member M into a common plane as the pluralityof can ends E are being transported by the upper conveyor belt run 69 inthe manner clearly shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings.

At the output end 63 of the conveyor mechanism 2 is located a pressureroll mechanism 126 which will be best described and understood byreferring to FIGURES 3 and 9 of the drawings. The pressure rollmechanism 126 is secured to the framework F of the conveyor mechanism 24by means of identical ears 127 projecting outwardly and secured to theframework F of the conveyor mechanism 24. A yoke 123 is journaledbetween the projecting cars 1127 by a pair of identical trunnions ineach one of a pair of legs 131 of the yoke 128. A-roller 132 isrotatably mounted by means of a shaft 133 to a lowermost end portion 134of each of the legs 131 of the yoke 12%. An elongated counterbalanciugarm 135 is secured to a bight portion 136 of the yoke 12%. A pluralityof weights 157 are adjustably secured upon the counterbalancing arm 135by means of a pair of nuts 158, each of which is threaded upon athreaded end portion 140 of the countcrbalancing arm 135.

After the can end encasing member M has been longitudinally slit by thesevering mechanism 319 and guided into a coplanar condition by the pairof shoes 121, the severed, coplanar can end encasing member M isinserted between the drive roll 61 and the roll 132 of the pressure rollmechanism 126. The roll 152 is preferably constructed of rubber or isprovided with a rubber surface which rides against the drive roll 61through the severed, planar can end encasing member M so that the canend encasing member M is tensioncd as the same is being drawn betweenthe rolls 61 and 132.

A wind-up mechanism 141 for winding-up and tensioning the severed,planar can end encasing member M is shown in FIGURES 3 and 7 of thedrawings. The windup mechanism M1 includes a pair of identical bearingblocks 142 secured to the framework F of the conveyor mechanism 24. Ashaft 143 of a wind-up reel 144i is rotatably journalcd in the pair ofbearing blocks 14-2. A pulley 145 is secured to the shaft 143. A pulleybelt 145 is entrained about the pulley 14-5, and the pulley 76. The

, wind'up reel 144 is driven at a constant overspecd by the pulley 76,the pulley belt 146 and the pulley 145 to tension the severed, planarcan end encasing member M, and the pulley belt 146 slips to maintain theproper tension in the severed, planar can end encasing member M as thediameter of the can end encasing member M wound upon the wind-up reel 114 increases.

To insure that a proper amount of can ends E are fed to the can closingmachine 1119, a detecting device 147 shown in FIGURES 1, 3, 7 and 9 issecured to a hump section 148 of the open guide 108 between the rodsections 113 and 114. An opening between the rod sections 113 and 114permits the plurality of can ends E to rise or hump up when a pluralityof can ends E are solidly packed along the length of the open guidemember 1113 to the can closing machine 1139. This packed condition ofthe plurality of can ends E occurs when the rate at which the pluralityof can ends E are being fed becomes faster than the rate at which thecan closing machine 1'19 is capable of using up the plurality of canends E.

A microswitch 151 is secured to an inverted bracket member 152 havingeach of two depending legs 153 secured to a respective one of the O-ringsupports 116. The microswitch 151 includes a movable arm 154 having aroller 155 at an end portion thereof. The roller 155 cooperates with aspring biased pivot arm 156 which is pivotally attached to the right leg153, as viewed in FIG- URE 3, of the detecting mechanism 147. Acompression spring 151 is mounted between a free end portion 157 of thecontact arm 156 and an offset bracket 158 secured to a left leg 153 ofthe detecting device 147, as shown in FIGURE 3. The microswitch 151 isconnected to the motor 67 which drives the conveyor belt 65.

As a plurality of can ends E begins to become solidly packed along theopen guide 195, some of the plurality of can ends E hump up in theopening 150 below the microswitch 151 and pivot the contact arm 156clockwise against the tension in the compression spring 159, therebycausing the switch arm 15? to operate the microswitch 151 and stop themotor 67. The conveyor belt 65 stops until the can closing machine 159has used up a sufiicient amount of the plurality of can ends E to allowthe portion thereof in the opening 151? to settle down. As these canends begin to settle, the compression spring 159 bears against the freeend portion 157 of the contact arm 156 and pivots the contact arm 156 ina counterclockwise direction to reposition the microswitch 151 and startthe motor 67 to begin the movement of the conveyor belt 65. To allow thecan end unpackaging apparatus 12 to be spaced different distances awayfrom the can closing machine 109, a section of the open guide 1118between the detecting mechanism 147 and the can closing machine 1119 isremovable. The section 16% comprises a V-shapcd trough 161 secured atopposite ends thereof to a respective identical circular member 162.Each of the circular members 162 is apertured in alignment with a pairof apertures (not shown) in each of the O-shaped members 116 in abutmentwith the circular members 162. A pair of nuts and bolts 163 secure thesection 161) in the open guide 1%. While only a single removable section161? is illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that aplurality of identical sections may be secured in the open guide 1115depending upon the distance between the can end unpackaging apparatus 12and the can closing machine 1199. Section 161) is open on top whichpermits manual feeding of can ends to the can closing machine fromconventional can end bags in the event repairs are necessary to the canend unpackaging apparatus 12.

The operation of the can end unpackaging apparatus 12 will be bestunderstood by referring to FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawings to whichthe attention is now directed.

The can end unpackaging apparatus 12 is first positioned adjacent a canclosing machine, such as the can closing machine 169. Any number ofremovable sections 1611 of the open guide 108 found necessary ordesirable to facilitate the installation of the can end unpackagingapparatus 12 are used in locating the can end unpackag-ing apparatus 12adjacent the can closing machine 109. The hydraulic reservoir 16 isfilled with suitable hydraulic fluid and the various electricalcomponents of the can end unpackaging apparatus 12 are connected to asuitable source of electric energy.

A container, such as the container C illustrated in U-shapcd' FIGURE 1,having a plurality of can ends encased in the tubular flexible member Mcoiled thereabout is positioned on top of the turntable 23 of the feedmechanism 13. With the turntable 23 of the feed mechanism in itslowermost position, an uppermost coil of the tubular can end encasingmember M is substantially aligned with the input end 25 of the conveyormechanism 24. An uppermost end of the coiled can end encasing member Mis removed from the container C, placed upon the chute 57, and drawnbetween the inverted U-shaped member 43 of the regulating mechanism 26until a substantial portion of the can end encasing member M is restingupon the upper conveyor belt run 69 of the conveyor belt 65. Theregulating arm 27 of the regulating device 26 is then positioned so thatthe hourglass roller 38 thereof is positioned atop the can end encasingmember M. A sealed end of the can end encasing member M is opened toallow the pointed end 190 of the plow 97 to enter between the peripheralportions of the plurality of can ends E and the can end encasing memberM when the conveyor belt 65 is moving.

' The motor 67 is actuated to drive the conveyor belt 65 through thedrive roll 61. The upper conveyor belt run 69 transports the can endencasing member M to the severing mechanism 80, as is clearly shown inFIGURE 11 of the drawings, whereat the rotating cutter blade 94longitudinally slits the can end encasing member M. The vacuuming device104 of FIGURE 1A removes the cutting dust during the slitting operationand transfers the same through the flexible conduit 106 to the tank 107.

' Continued advancement of the conveyor belt 65 moves the severedportion of the can end encasing member into the vicinity of the pair ofguide shoes 121 and the hinged rod section 112 (as is best illustratedin FIGURE 8 of the drawings). An operator then pivots each of the shoes121 from an out-of-the-w-ay position to a position atop the marginalsevered edges of the can end encasing member M, as clearly shown inFIGURE 8. The rod section 112 is thereafter pivoted to overlie and guidethe plurality of can ends E while the same are being transported alongthe open guide 108.

At the output end 63 of the conveyor mechanism 24, the can end encasingmember M is guided manually between the rolls 61 and 132, Because thewind-up mechanism 141 is slip driven, the same may be stopped by theoperator without stopping the drive motor 67, and the severed end of thecan end encasing member M is secured to the wind-up reel 144 thereof.

The upper conveyor belt run 69 of the conveyor belt 65 subsequentlyfeeds the plurality of can ends E along the open guide 108, beyond thedetecting mechanism 147, and into the can closing machine 109. i

The detecting mechanism 147 will stop the motor 67 when a portion of theplurality of can ends E has risen in the hump section 148 of the openguide 108 in the manner heretofore discussed.

, Furthermore, as the regulating arm 27 of the regulating mechanism 26descends during the transportation of the can end encasing member by theconveyor mechanism 24, the microswitch 54 at the input end 25 of theconveyor mechanism 24 is actuated in the manner previously described tovertically raise the inner cylinder of the feed mechanism 13 and therebyprevent the rupture of the can end encasing member M.

Various modifications of the disclosed can end unpackaging apparatus 12are considered to be within the scope of this invention. able-feedmember 13 can be replaced by a spool-type feed mechanism similar to thetypes of spools upon which thread or electrical conduit are wound. Also,a fully automatic threading device, such as that employed in automaticwinding mechanisms, may be incorporated in the disclosed can endunpackaging apparatus 12 to automatically thread the severed end portionof the can end 126 and onto the wind-up mechanism 141.

For example, the vertically mov-' 4, wherein a guide surface is While anexample disclosure of a can end unpackaging apparatus and thearrangement of the various components for feeding a plurality of canends arranged in face-t0- face relationship and encased in an elongated,tubular, flexible member, means for regulating the feeding means, aconveyor mechanism adapted to transport said encased can ends along apredetermined path, means for progressively severing the flexible memberas the encased can ends are conveyed along the predetermined path, andmeans for engaging edges of the can ends and contactingly guiding theplurality of canends beyond the severing means in face-to-facerelationship toward an output end of the conveyor.

2. A can end unpackaging apparatus comprising a vertically movablefeeding device adapted to feed a plurality of can ends arranged inface-to-face relationship and encased in an elongated, tubular, flexiblemember to .a conveyor, means for regulating the vertical movement ofsaid feeding device, the conveyor being adapted to transport saidencased can ends along a predetermined horizontal path, means forprogressively severing the flexible member as the encased ends areconveyed along the predetermined path by the conveyor, means positionedbeyond the severing means for removing the severed flexible memher fromabout the encased can ends, and means positioned between at least thesevering means and the removing means for guiding the plurality of canends in unwrapped face-to-face relationship toward an output end of theconveyor.

3. A can end unpackaging apparatus including a conveyor adapted totransport a plurality of can ends arranged in face-t-o-face relationshipin a flexible encasing member along a predetermined path from an inputend of the conveyor to an output end of the conveyor, feeding meanslocated adjacent the input end of the conveyor, means for regulating thefeeding means to preclude rupture of the flexible encasing member as theencasing member is being fed to and transported by the conveyor alongsaid predetermined path.

4. A can end unpackaging apparatus including a conveyor adapted totransport a plurality of can ends arranged in face-to-face relationshipin a flexible encasing member along a predetermined path from an inputend of the conveyor to -an output end of the conveyor, feeding meanslocated in spaced relation to the input end of the conveyor for feedingthe encasing member to the input end of the conveyor, and means forpreventing rupture of the flexible encasing member as the encasingmember is being transported between the input end of the conveyor andthe feeding means.

5. The can unpackaging apparatus as defined in claim provided betweenthe input end of the conveyor and the feeding means to addition-ally aidin preventing the rupture of the flexible encasing memher.

6. A can end unpackaging apparatus comprising a conveyor adapted totransport a plurality of can ends arranged in face-to-face relationshipand encased in a tubular, flexible member along a predetermined pat-hfrom an input end of the conveyor to an output end of the conveyor,means located between the input and output ends of the conveyor forsevering the tubular member while said tubular .member is beingtransported along the predetermined path means located beyond sa'idsevering means for completely removing the [severed flexible member fromabout the plurality of can ends transported by the conveyor and meansfor guidably contacting the canend edges during the movement thereofbeyond said removing means. i

7. The can end unpackaging apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein meansare provided for 'tensioning said severed flexible member as the same isbeing removed from about the plurality of can ends.

d. The can end unpackaging apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein meansare positioned adjacent said severing means for guiding adja ent severedportions oflthe tubular flexible member away from each other and into acommon plane.

9. The can end unpackaging apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein meansare provided adjacent the output end of the conveyor for detecting thesufliciency of can ends being transported by the conveyor, saiddetecting means being operable in one condition thereof to indicate asumciency of can ends and being further operable in another condition toindicate an insufficiency of can ends being transported by saidconveyor.

10. The can end unpackaging apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein theconveyor comprises a driven conveyor, drive means adapted to drive saidconveyor to transport the plurality of can ends between the input andoutput ends of the conveyor, said detecting means being connected tosaid drive means to stop said drive means upon one indicated conditionof the detecting means and start said drive means upon another indicatedcondition of the detecting means thereby assuring a sutficient output ofcan ends transported by said conveyor.

11. A can end unpack-aging apparatus comprising a conveyor adapted totransport a plurality of can ends arranged in face-to-face relationshipand encased in a tubular, flexible member along a predetermined pathfrom an input end of the conveyor to an output end of the conveyor,means located between the input and output ends of the conveyor forsevering the tubular member while the tubular member is beingtransported along the predetermined path, saidsevering means including acutting portion arranged substantially parallel to the saidpredetermined path whereby linear severance of the tubular member isperformed, and means located beyond said severing means for completelyremoving the severed flexible mem ber as a single piece from about theplurality of can ends and means for continually guiding said can ends byedge contact therewith in axially aligned face-to-face relationshipbetween said severing means and said removing means.

12. A can end unpackaging apparatus comprisinga conveyor adapted totransport a plurality of can ends arranged in face-to-face relationshipand encased in a tubular, flexible member along a predetermined pathfrom an input end of the conveyor to an output end of the conveyor,means located between the input and output ends of the conveyor forsevering the tubular member while the tubular member is beingtransported along the predetermined path, said severing means includinga cutting port1on arranged substantially parallel to the saidpredetermined path whereby linear severance of the tubular member isperformed, means located beyond said severing means for completelyremoving the severed flexible member as a single piece from about theplurality of can ends, a pressure roll mechanism at the output end ofsaid conveyor, said pressure roll mechanism being cooperative with aportion of the conveyor to grip the severed flexible membertherebetween, and a slip-tensioned Wind-up spool adapted to receivethereabout the severed flexible member directly from said pressure rollmechanism thereby providing compact winding of the severed flexiblemember upon said spool.

13. The can end unpackaging apparatus as defined in claim :12 whereinguiding means are positioned adjacent said severing means for guidingadjacent severed portions of the tubular flexible member into a commonplane and a substantially flat condition.

14. A can end unpackaging apparatus comprising a conveyor adapted totransport a plurality of can ends arranged in face-to face relatinnshipand encased in a tubu- 13.2 lar flexible member along a predeterminedpath from an input end of the conveyor to an output end of the conveyor,means located between the input and output ends of the conveyor forsevering the tubular member While the tubular member is beingtransported along the predeter-- mined path, said severing meansincluding a cutting portion arranged substantially parallel to the saidpredetermined path whereby linear severance of the tubular memher isperformed, plow means cooperative with the severing means forprogressively spacing portions of the tubular member away from theperipheral edges of the plurality of can ends whereby the tubular memberis severed by the.

cutting portion without the cutting portion contacting the peripheraledges of the plurality of can ends and means for supporting the can endson the peripheral edges thereof after the severance of the tubularmember during the progressive spacing of portions thereof away from theperipheral edges of the can ends.

15. A can end unpackaging apparatus comprising a conveyor adapted totransport a plurality of can ends arranged in face-to-face relationshipand encased in a tubular, flexible member along a predetermined pathfrom an input end of the conveyor to an output end of ,the conveyor,means located between the input and output ends of the conveyor forsevering the tubular member while the tubular member is beingtransported along the predetermined path, said severing means includinga cutting portion arranged substantially parallel to the saidpredetermined path whereby linear severance of the tubular member isperformed, means located beyond said severing means for completelyremoving the severed flexible member as a single piece from about theplurality of can ends, a vertically movable and rotatable feeding device=for feeding the encased can ends to the input end of the conveyor, andmeans for regulating the vertical movement of said feeding device.

15. A can end unpackaging apparatus comprising a vertically movable andfreely rotatable support adapted to have coiled thereabout a pluralityof can ends arranged in face-to-face relationship and encased in atubular, flexible, paperstock member, a conveyor belt having an inputend adjacent said support, said conveyor belt adapted to transport saidmember along a predetermined path from the input end of the conveyor toan output end thereof, means for driving said conveyor belt, aregulating arm having a first end portion journaled at the input end ofthe conveyor belt and a second end portion extending in overlyingrelation to the support, a rotating cutting blade supported above theconveyor belt between the input and output ends thereof, a tapered plowsupported above said conveyor belt and cooperative with the cuttingblade for progressively lifting portions of the tubular paperstockmember toward the cutting blade, a guiding shoe on each side of thepredetermined path for directing severed portions of the tubularpaperstock member into a common plane, a tensioned wind-up spooladjacent the output end of the belt conveyor adapted to have the severedmember compactly coiled thereabout, and a detecting device adjacent theoutput end of the conveyor belt for indicating the sufficiency of canends being transported by the conveyor belt, said detecting device beingoperab'ly con-' nected to the conveyor belt driving'means to stop saiddriving means upon a first indication and to start said,

driving means upon a second indication.

17. The method of unpackaging a plurality of can ends arranged inface-to-face relationship and encased in an elongated, tubular, flexiblemember comprising the steps of transporting the encased can ends along apredetermined path, continuously severing the flexible member,separating the flexible member from the plurality of can ends andguiding the can ends to maintain the face-totace relationship thereofimmediately after the severing of the flexible member.

18. The method of unpackaging a plurality of can ends" arranged inface-todace relationship and encased in an elongated, tubular, flexiblemember comprising the steps V of moving the encased can ends along apredetermined path, continuously severing the flexible member during themovement thereof along the predetermined path, unwrapping the severedflexible member from its tubular unsevered form to a generally planarflat form to expose the plurality of can ends and supporting the canends through the flexible member until the flexible member is in planarform.

19. The method of unpackagin-g a plurality of can ends encased in aflexible member comprising the steps of moving the plurality of encasedcan ends between two positions, longitudinally linearly severing theflexible member during the movement thereof between the two positionsand removing the severed flexible member to expose the plurality of canends and edge guiding the can ends after the severing of the flexiblememberv 20. A can end unpackaging apparatus comprising means for feedinga plurality of can ends arranged in :face-toface relationship andencased in an elongated, tubular, flexible member, said means includingconveyor means for transporting said encased can ends along apredetermined horizontal path of travel, means for progressivelysevering the flexible member as the encased can ends are conveyed alongthe predetermined horizontal path of travel, means for progressivelyremoving the severed flexible member, and means for contactingperipheral edges of the can ends for guidably supporting the can ends inface-to-face relationship during the movement thereof by the conveyormeans beyond the severing means.

21. A can unpackaging apparatus comprising means for feeding a pluralityof can ends arranged in face-to-face relationship and encased in anelongated, tubular, flexible member, said feeding means includingsupport means for supporting the flexible member in coil form, saidsupport means being vertically movable and rotatable, means forregulating the vertical movement of said support means, a conveyormechanism adjacent said support means and adapted to transport saidencased can ends along a predetermined horizontal path, means forprogressively severing the flexible member as the encased can ends areconveyed by the conveyor along the predetermined path, means forprogressively unwrapping the severed flexible member from the generallyunsevered tubular configuration thereof to a generally planarconfiguration, and said conveyor mechanism conveying both the severedflexible member and the can ends as the same are being progressivelyunwrapped.

22. The can end unpackaging apparatus as defined in claim 21 includingguide means adjacent the severing means and continuing in the directionof can end travel along the predetermined path for engaging edges of thecan ends and maintaining the can ends in face-to-face relationshipduring the unwrapping of the severed flexible member.

23. The can end unpackaging apparatus defined in claim 21 includingmeans for spacing the flexible member from the peripheral edges of theplurality of can ends as the same are advanced along the predeterminedpath, said spacing means including .a relief portion, and said severingmeans including a blade projectible through said relief portion forsevering the flexible member but being sufliciently spaced to preventthe severing of the can end peripheral edges.

M. A can end unpackaging apparatus including conveyor means adapted totransport a plurality of can ends arranged in f-ace-to-face relationshipin a flexible encasing member along a predetermined horizontal path froman input end of the conveyor to an output end of the conveyor, means forprogressively severing the flexible memher as the encased can ends areconveyed along the predetermined path, means for progressivelyunwrapping the severed flexible member, means positioned beyond thesevering means for removing the severed flexible member from about theencased can ends, and said conveyor supporting said can ends through thesevered flexible member between the severance and removal thereof.

25. A can end unpackaging apparatus comprising a vertically movable androtatable support adapted to have coiled thereabout a plurality of canends arranged in faceto-face relationship and encased in a tubular,flexible member, a conveyor having an input end adjacent said support,said conveyor being adapted to transport said member along apredetermined path from the input end of the conveyor to an output endthereof, means for driving said conveyor, regulating means forregulating the vertical movement of the support, a cutter supportedabove the conveyor between the input and output ends thereof, a plowsupported above the conveyor and cooperative with the cutter forprogressively lifting portions of the tubular member toward the cutter,a guide shoe on each side of the predetermined path for directingsevered portions of the tubular member into a common plane, removingmeans adjacent the output end of the conveyor for re moving the severedmember, a detecting device adjacent the output end of the conveyor forindicating the sufliciency of can ends being transported by theconveyor, and said detecting device being operatively connected to theconveyor driving means to regulate the conveyor upon indications of thedetecting device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,628,215 5/27Zoline 83-425 2,366,271 1/45 Lerch 83-429 3,027,108 3/62 Russo et al242-54 3,105,283 10/63 Pernick 24256.2

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. A CAN END UNPACKAGING APPARATUS COMPRISING MEANS FOR FEEDING APLURALITY OF CAN ENDS ARRANGED IN FACE-TOFACE RELATIONSHIP AND ENCASEDIN AN ELONGATED, TUBULAR, FLEXIBLE MEMBER, MEANS FOR REGULATING THEFEEDING MEANS, A CONVEYOR MECHANISM ADAPTED TO TRANSPORT SAID ENCASEDCAN ENDS ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, MEANS FOR PROGRESSIVELY SEVERINGTHE FLEXIBLE MEMBER AS THE ENCASED CAN ENDS ARE CONVEYED ALONG THEPREDETERMINED PATH, AND MEANS FOR ENGAGING EDGES OF THE CAN ENDS ANDCONTACTINGLY GUIDING THE PLURALITY OF CAN ENDS BEYOND THE SEVERING MEANSIN FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP TOWARD AN OUTPUT END OF THE CONVEYOR.